Resumo

RANSOME, William F.. “Above the Sceptred Sway”: Retrieving the Quality of Mercy. Crítica (Méx., D.F.) [online]. 2008, vol.40, n.119, pp.3-27.  Epub 01-Maio-2020. ISSN 0011-1503.  https://doi.org/10.22201/iifs.18704905e.2008.1007.

Mercy is often thought to be a praiseworthy moral virtue. However, the quality of mercy has been thrown into doubt. Since to be merciful is to be lenient to a wrongdoer beyond the dictates of justice, it seems as if mercy cannot be a praiseworthy virtue. I argue that several recent attempts to reconcile mercy with justice fail, and that the subsequent endeavour to resurrect mercy as a praiseworthy moral virtue is doubtful. However, I also show how the praiseworthy quality of mercy can be retrieved, if we carefully reconstruct the moral case in its favour outside the law.

Palavras-chave : equity; justice; leniency; mercy; virtue.